The Spinster Only Want Gold

Chapter 2

“Your elegance, my lady!’’

What Elegance? Can it be eaten?

Suyin was on the verge of exploding. In her every move, Yun Li will scold her. Her keen eyes will never miss a move even the blinking of her eyes.

‘’If you want to save that ug- ahem face of yours, at least show an ounce of elegance my lady.’’

‘’Hmph!’’ 

Yun Li persuaded her more to fix her inelegant bearing and scrunchy facial expression. She understood the lady was thinking about the guild's loss. It displeased her so much that she kept frowning throughout the day. 

But displaying a gentle smile is important. Really, really important

Her current image which the painter is currently painting right now will go down in history.

At this rate, she can imagine how the lady’s painting would turn out. 

Cough.

‘’Uhmm...m-my lady can y-you smile a little...just a little bit.’’ 

The painter anxiously requested. It took a long time for him to blurt out those words. He was scared. He thought the lady would not let him live before he could get back home.

Suyin sighed before she looked down at the painter. ‘’Sure.’’

She spread a wide gruesome smile on her face. And the painter regretted his request.

That looks so scary.

“Your elegance, my lady!’’ Yun Li strictly yet anxiously rebuked her.

Suyin refused and smiled even more. That one sent shivers down the spine of the painter.

Today is her last day as Xuyuan’s guild master. Everything is so sudden so she rushes to settle down before leaving the guild.

And one of the last remaining matters to be settled is her portrait. In leading the guild for less than a decade, she always forgot to save some portraits of her. And now she had to rush it. 

For her, it was a boring task to do. To paint a well-crafted portrait, she should sit still face to face with the painter for about long hours. 

She didn’t want the idea since she was always busy. She’s the kind of person who spends every ounce of time working on her business and being busy as usual.

After a long time of suffering, the portrait was finally done.

The painter looked at the painting he created. He gulped when he gave it one final look.

What to do? His hands are shaking while folding the scroll.

If the lady saw this, how would she react? Just the thought of it made him shudder.

In the painting, you can see a woman smiling. Yes! A smile sounds normal but the smiling woman in a portrait gives off an eerie vibe.

‘’Let me see.’’ She stretched her hand asking for the painting.

Hesitantly, he stopped folding the scroll. He lifted his hands to give the scroll to her.

However, before she could lay her eyes on the painting a voice interrupted her.

“Master, the elite guild elders all gathered at the assembly hall just like what you instructed.’’ A black figure appeared out of nowhere bringing the news she’s been waiting for since morning.

She smiled triumphantly. ‘’Ke ke ke ke...I can always find ways to break through whatever circumstances may happen.’’

Compared to her smile earlier, it was brighter.

‘Sigh. Master loves to smile but she owns different smiles, carrying different meanings. And often, no one knows what they mean.’

‘’Let’s go and let’s face this head on.’’ She said walking in the direction of the assembly hall.

‘I won’t let go of the guild. I will stay as its owner.’

Although Suyin is the owner, she can’t freely decide all the guild matters on her own. There are guild elite elders who made all the primary decisions along with her.

If the majority of them oppose her decision, she can’t continue to pursue that decision.

It was quite frustrating on her part but she doesn’t have a choice since they put an investment in the guild. Without their investment, the guild can’t expand.

But this time, she can see it as an advantage. 

She requested to conduct a meeting with them in which they should vote if they will protect her side or welcome another new guild master.

If the majority choose to protect her side, they should put their investments on the line paying the worth of the bet instead of the guild’s ownership.

If the elite elders take action, the soon-to-be new guild’s owner can’t do anything but to stop. He can’t take over the guild since the elite elders didn’t support that.

‘’I am confident they will take my side. I already made some arrangements before the meeting. I promised to give up more than half of my share to the guild and give it to them. That was a fair deal, wasn't it? The more share you have the more gold you can earn.’’

‘’Yes, It was fair enough in my opinion.’’ Yun Li nodded. She’s been with her for a long time. Giving up a big portion of her share like that was surely hard for her. 

The assembly hall was unusually peaceful. When she entered, everyone silently got up and slightly bowed to her as she took her seat in front of them.

She kept her bright smile as she spoke.

‘’My dear elite elders, shall we start now?’’ She waved her hand indicating that the voting can start now. 

Five more men in black entered the assembly hall carrying papers, soft brushes, inks, and stamps for the vote.  

However, the elite elders solemnly stayed still in their seats. They didn’t grab the soft brushes to write and vote their decision on the papers.

They only stayed silent. Suyin who saw this slightly frowned.

‘Just what is happening here?’ She asked inside her head.

‘’My dear elite elders, is there something wrong’’? She asked them and brought back her bright smile earlier. 

The elders didn’t speak but they looked at one another and silently prodded each other to speak and explain.

‘’Respected elders, if you want to say something please speak freely.’’ Yun Li said. She was displeased with their actions.

‘’Lady Suyin, we have no choice.’’ Finally, one elder spoke. 

‘’We can’t refuse because all of our possessions and even our gold were put on hold. Even if we take your side we have nothing put at risk.’’ He got up from his seat and kneeled in front of her. He felt scared that his life would be in danger.

If I died here what will happen to my business, my wealth, and to my lovely wife? I...I can’t leave them behind. I do not want to die.

Rumors are circulating around Xinzhou that the guild master has a habit of killing people. Specifically, people who displeased her. But no one knows or saw her do the deed. But it might be true, who knows?

She always appeared intimidating. Sometimes when she smiles she always gives off an eerie vibe.

‘’...’’ Suyin only glanced at him, her face void of emotion. In her mind, she was speculating. She suspected that the person behind all of these is the person who beat her in the gamble and probably the next guild master.

I underestimated him. How did he know I would approach the elders? Sigh. When did everything become so complicated? I’m hungry!  All I need now is chicken soup paired with fluffy and meaty dumplings. Let’s just hurry up and end this madness! My chicken soup just wait and see I’m coming ~ 

Thankfully, ahem...she can control herself not to drool from thinking about her chicken soup. 

Ha! We should or else Yun Li would nag me asking where my elegance has gone to?

‘’Tsk. You get what you truly deserve. Hahaha...A spinster like you trying to control us? Even if that man didn’t approach us I already made up my mind. I will not take your side. I will instead support them to kick you out from the guild!’’ One of the elders exclaimed. 

‘’I got yah! So you're all lying. Your wealth is not actually on hold. It was intentional. Am I right?’’

They got caught. Saying that their wealth was put on hold is an alibi They have an agreement to use it before they went to the assembly. 

But of course, they didn’t want to admit it easily.

‘’What are you saying? How could we lie when -

“How much did he offer to you?’’ She cut him off. 

‘’W-what?’’ 

‘’Yun Li, call the Blackies.’’ She commanded. Threats are the quickest way to force them to spit out the truth. And of course, the shortcut towards her chicken soup!

‘’Yah! Have you gone mad? Are you trying to assassinate all of us here?.’’

‘’Yes.’’ She blurted. Suddenly, black figures started to appear one by one inside the assembly hall, surrounding all of them. Assassins are rarely seen inside the hall but they are always present. But if the guild master ordered to, they should appear visible.

The elder who is still on his knees shuddered in fear.

Is this the end of me? What should I do?

‘’Blackies, ready your daggers and needles. We have so much dust to sweep on the floor today.’’ She casually said. But her casual voice sent shivers to all of the elders.

‘’Master, why daggers and needles? Axes are much better. I think those are not dust they are woods waiting to be cut down.’’ Yun Li commented. 

The elders want to vomit blood looking at the master and servant casually chatting like what they are about to do is just cooking a meal or sort of a house chore.

‘’Master and Yun Li asked us to clean? Shouldn't we use brooms rather than weapons?’’ One of the assassins murmured asking his colleague beside him. 

‘’Tsk. You are slow as ever.’’ His colleague said having a desire to knock his head.

‘’Oh no! Make sure no little child hears the master and Yun Li. Their hearts are too fragile to hear weapons and cutting.’’ Another assassin commented while anxiously inserting himself between them.

‘’Gosh! There is definitely no child here. What you said doesn’t make sense! '’ The second assassin complained still in a low voice. ‘’Am I the only one who is sensible here?’’

‘’No. I am sensible.’’ The last one assassin who popped out of nowhere said. He is the last one who appeared and he is always like that - being late. Probably, gone lost no one knows how many times already.

‘’The one who said they are sensible is not the sensible one.’’ The second assassin felt frustrated. He looked at the other group of assassins and he saw how ‘normal’ they are. But how about his group? He doesn't know what will happen to them in the future.

‘’Blackies, draw now your wea-’’

‘’Lady Suyin! He offered us shares to Swan Valley in exchange for our support to him.’’ The elder who kneeled in front of her became so anxious that he confessed everything he knew about the agreement.

Other elders sent glares like daggers to him but nothing made him more anxious than Suyin. Some elders are like him. They sighed in relief to a little bit of hope they saw. 

Will Lady Suyin finally spared us?

‘’Swan Valley you say?’’

‘’Y-Yes.’’ He stammered. ‘’The next guild master is the actual owner of Swan Valley.’’

‘’Y-You! How could you betra- lie to us’’ The elder who mocked her growled in anger. Still defending their alibi. He didn’t realize he was the one who exposed them first. 

Suyin smiled at his foolishness. But she felt insulted as well. She made an effort to approach them and win their side when the truth is she already lost the battle the moment she put her hands on the bet.

Owner of the Swan Valley? How could such a person challenge her when she didn’t have anything to offer against him? He is wealthier than her.

No matter how much I work hard to chase wealth, there are always people who are far more superior to me. At 27 years of age, I am already fulfilled. And decided to be satisfied with what feat I have reached now. But I have yet to achieve the wealth possessed by the likes of him. I thought I could make it, but now I ended up losing almost everything.

She was smiling but deep inside she had these kinds of thoughts.

‘’Master! Master! That person is coming. He is already at the gate of Xuyuan.’’ A servant entered the assembly hall and brought this news.

‘’So the next guild master arrived.’’ 

The assassins dispersed in the background as Suyin waved her hand, indicating that they should withdraw.

‘’Yun Li, lead the way.’’ Yun Li retired to welcome the newcomers and lead them to the assembly hall.

Not too long, they have arrived.

Four unfamiliar men dressed in expensive clothes entered first. They looked like nobles from the capital.

But there is another man who is last to enter the hall. He is probably the next guild master, the person who beat her, and the said rich owner of the Swan Valley.

However, when he entered Suyin’s face paled. She felt like she would faint in shock. And everyone in the hall was surprised to see her reaction. For the first time in forever, Suyin seemed anxious. No, it is more like a shock.

‘’My dear granddaughter, we finally meet again.’’ The old man is around in his 90’s but he is still full of vigor. His steps are still steady and sturdy. The spirit of a general on the battlefield is still imprinted in his soul.

‘’G-Grandfather?’’ She felt like everything was a dream and she hoped it was.